Iran war: U.S. intel warns of murder plots – Trump threatens another “Epic Fury”

U.S. intelligence agencies see a sharply growing threat of Iranian attacks on American diplomats and officials. In a one-page, unclassified memo dated Oct. 23, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that lethal Iranian plots had reached “advanced stages” – in the Middle East and in other countries. Axios first reported the memo; according to The Associated Press, three U.S. officials confirmed it is authentic. It names no specific targets and gives no details of the plots. Clayton offered to downgrade material so that personnel who may be at risk can be warned.

U.S. officials say the warning is one reason the State Department on Friday ordered staff reductions at the embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; one official cited “the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots.” The missions remain open. Non-essential staff and family members were already ordered to leave Saudi Arabia earlier in the week. At a campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, President Donald Trump said the U.S. may do “another little Epic Fury” – or Iran will agree to a deal. He said he doubted Tehran would negotiate.

According to the military news site The War Zone, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group, along with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are due to arrive in the region by the end of November – about 10,000 additional troops. Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Tehran has drawn up detailed plans to target undersea cables in the Gulf if the U.S. and Israel attack again. “If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines,” one of them said. Experts expect limited global impact, but multiple cable cuts could slow internet services and disrupt financial transactions. Brent crude briefly rose above $117 a barrel on Friday.